Our Beliefs

Common Practices

Our Articles of Faith

We serve a Triune God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit

There is one God, eternally existing in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory. This is known as the Trinity, meaning that God is three-in-one, or triune. Each member shares the same divine attributes and perfections, while fulfilling distinct roles within the Trinity (Matt 28:19; John 10:30-33; 14:9-11; 15:26; 16:13-15; Acts 5:3-4; Rom 8:9; Col 1:15; 2:9; Heb 1:2-3; 1 John 5:20).

The eternal fellowship, love, honor, and delight of the Trinity is the very center and wellspring of all that exists, and the actions of this triune God demonstrate the desire to display the perfection of their loving fellowship and invite others into it (John 17:1-5, 20- 26; Acts 17:24-27; Colossians 1:16; 1 John 1:3-4; Revelation 4:11).

God the Father

God the Father is an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, honor, wisdom, power, and love. Accordingly, as the Creator of all things, He is the absolute Sovereign and omnipotent Ruler of all creation (Gen 1:1; 1 Chr 29:10-13; Ps 103:19; 119:137; John 3:16; 4:24; 1 John 4:7-8; Rev 4:11). He is self-existent, eternal, omnipresent, and unchanging, and He orders and disposes all things according to His own wisdom, will, and grace (Psalms 90:2; 104:24; Jeremiah 23:24; Ephesians 1:11; Job 42:2; Isaiah 10:5-7; Jeremiah 18:3-11; Matthew 6:25-33; 10:29-30).

God the Son: Perfectly Divine and Completely Human

In the incarnation, the eternal second Person of the Trinity took on all the essential characteristics of humanity, yet was without sin, and so became the God-man, Jesus Christ— true God and true man in perfect, indivisible oneness (John 1:14; Phil 2:6-8; Col 1:15, 19; 2:9; 1 Tim 2:5; Heb 2:14, 17-18; 4:15; 7:26).

God the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit has been active from all eternity. His activity was evident in the Old Testament, beginning with creation and continuing with the empowerment of certain people for important tasks in the history of Israel (Genesis 1:2; Exodus 31:2-3; 35:30-31; Numbers 11:24-25, 29; 1 Samuel 10:6, 9-13; 16:13-14).

More of his personhood and activity were revealed in the New Testament, beginning with the incarnation as Jesus was conceived within the virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit, was anointed and empowered by the Spirit at his baptism, and poured out the Spirit on his disciples following his resurrection and exaltation (Matthew 1:20; 3:11, 16; 12:28; Mark 1:8-10; Luke 1:35; 3:16, 22; 4:14, 18; John 1:32-33; 3:34; 20:22; Acts 2:33; 2 Peter 1:19-21).

Inspiration of Scripture

The Bible is the Word of God, the unique and special means of God revealing himself to humanity in written form. God the Holy Spirit moved in and through human authors to select the very words and to produce the entire text of Scripture. The Bible is free from error in the original documents, meaning that Scripture in the original documents does not affirm anything that is false. The Bible alone teaches a complete Christian worldview and is the supreme and final authority in all matters on which it speaks (Proverbs 30:5-6; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).

Humanity

Humans were created both male and female in God’s image, to know him and make him known in and over all creation. When the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, chose to rebel against God’s good rule, this sin brought about spiritual and physical death and corruption to all creation. Humanity became enslaved to sin and sinful desires. This helpless, hopeless, shameful condition darkens and distorts every aspect of our relationships to God and each other, perverting worship and service to God, marriage and family, and de-humanizing fellow humans based on class, race, gender, age, or level of physical or intellectual development. Thankfully, our triune God took the initiative to correct all that has gone wrong. The Father sent the Son into the world, in the power of the Spirit, with the intent to ultimately restore humanity and all creation. This is the heart of the gospel message (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:16-18; 3:3-19; 6:5; Romans 1:18-32; 5:6-10; Ephesians 2:12; 4:17-19; Titus 3:3).

Our Salvation

The gospel message that God is redeeming all creation through Jesus Christ must be proclaimed so that people will be called out of darkness into his light. They must be born again by the Spirit, turning in faith and repentance to Christ as the only way of salvation. Those united with Christ are declared righteous (justified), delivered from the guilt, shame and penalty of sin, freed from slavery to sin, and given eternal life. They are made holy by the Holy Spirit, who progressively transforms them into Christ’s image (sanctified). When Christ returns, true Christians will be fully restored from the effects of sin (glorified). Salvation is of the Lord, guaranteeing the eventual triumphant outcome (Mark 1:14-15; John 3:3-8, 16-21; 8:12; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:21-26; 6:1-23; 8:10-23, 28-30; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 5:17-21; Ephesians 2:4-10; Colossians 1:15-23; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, Romans 5:1-2).

Regeneration

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born again; that regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind; that it is effected in a manner above our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; and that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. (John 3:3-7, 1 Corinthians 3:14, 1 Peter 1:22-25, Philippians 2:13)

Repentance

We believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God; whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest and King, and relying on him alone as the only and all-sufficient Savior. (Mark 1:15, Acts 11:18, Romans 10:9-11, 1 John 5:1)

Sanctification

We believe that sanctification is the process by which according to the will of God, we are made partakers of his holiness; that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration; and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means especially the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer. (1 Thessalonians 4:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 6:1)

The Church

The church is the body of Christ and the dwelling place for God by the Spirit, comprised of all humanity who have come to saving faith in Jesus Christ. The universal church is expressed in various times and places through local churches. The mission of the church is to make disciples of all nations. The church is built up as each member draws near to God in worship and praise and seeks to live in obedience to the “one another” commands of the New Testament (e.g., John 13:34; Ephesians 5:18-21; Colossians 3:12-13; Hebrews 10:24-25; etc.). Habitation Church practices two sacraments as given in the New Testament: believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe God has established an excellent government to build the Saints. All five ministries are active in the life of the Church today. We believe that the work if the five-fold ministry will end with the return of Christ, when the Saints are “perfected”. (Ephesians 4:11)

Heaven and Hell

The ascension of Jesus Christ inaugurated his kingdom and the “last days,” and he sent the Spirit to empower the process of gathering his people from all nations. The promise of new creation has already begun to be fulfilled in his people, though not yet in its fullness. Jesus Christ currently reigns as head of his body, the church. The full consummation of the Kingdom of God awaits Jesus’ bodily, visible return to earth, when he will reign over all creation in power and glory. Upon his return, all the dead will be raised bodily, and all humanity will face him as judge. His believing people will share in his reign and glory forever in Heaven, but unbelievers will experience just punishment for their rebellion in Hell forever. Following this final judgment, the promise of new creation will be fully realized in the new heavens and new earth, freed from sin, death, and all of its effects, where God’s people will live with him in righteousness and peace forever (Matthew 25; John 6:40; Acts 2:17-36; 1 Corinthians 15; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Ephesians 1:17-22; 2 Peter 3:9-13; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:1-10, 22-27).